CBD Oil Dosage: How Much to Take?

Having the right information is very important before embarking on a new experience. This fact holds true even in the case of CBD oil. No matter if you’re a first time user or have been a CBD loyalist, learning about the right dosage for you is crucial.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is just one of the various cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. It is also famous for being the cannabinoid with the most therapeutic and remedial medical benefits. Right from simple ailments like headaches and irregular sleep, to more serious ones like Dravet’s Syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, CBD has something to offer us all.

Although cannabidiol has many applications, it is not a miracle potion. It does not replace traditional medication advised by medical professionals. It also requires to be taken in the appropriate dosage to show the best effect for your ailment.

CBD is safe to be consumed even in large quantities. While it is advisable to start small if you’re new to the substance, a larger dose won’t harm you. You may undoubtedly feel some unpleasant side effects, especially if you’re sensitive. However, most side effects pass in a span of anything between a few minutes to a couple of hours. With that being said, you’re going to benefit by finding your CBD dosage ‘sweet spot’. This sweet spot refers to the ideal amount of CBD for your unique requirements.

Additionally, it must be noted that there is no official recommended dosage for CBD oil. The FDA provides general suggestions on a plethora of substances. However, it doesn’t regulate CBD oil on a federal level. You’re not going to find any recommendations as there isn’t an official recommendation on the topic. This ambiguity makes finding the right CBD oil dosage for you a tricky path to navigate.

The Right CBD Oil Dosage: Factors to Consider

Before we can delve into finding the appropriate CBD oil dosage for you, let’s get one thing clear. What is appropriate and effective for one person, may not be for another person. Our bodies are extremely different from one another. Even CBD oil’s effects on our bodies are different.

There are many factors that cause this. Let’s understand some of the most important ones.

Every Endocannabinoid System is Different

If you’ve been looking into CBD oil, you must’ve heard of the endocannabinoid system. This unique system in our body regulates many functions in our body, especially our physical and mental health. CBD oil works by binding with endocannabinoid receptor side across various regions in the body. The endocannabinoid receptors located within tissue and cell systems are called CB1 and CB2 receptors.

Endocannabinoid systems are far more complex than we can imagine. They’re difficult to isolate and study, leaving CBD researchers stumped often. It hasn’t been easy determining if the CB1 and CB2 receptors are directly or indirectly able to influence these receptors. There is some confusion surrounding the exact role that the system plays in affection a person’s overall health.

Sure, scientists can give you a broad opinion, but pinpointing exactly how and why CBD oil works differently in our bodies is not entirely possible. However, we do know that each person’s endocannabinoid system is unique and that the way CBD oil affects everyone is different.

This factor should always be kept in mind while looking for the appropriate CBD oil dosage.

Tolerance, Genetics, Medical History and General Health

If you see any disease or disorder, the chances of contracting them depend heavily on some key factors. These lifestyle and physiological factors include your body’s tolerance or threshold, genetics, medical history and general health stats. All these factors play a huge role in determining the right CBD oil dosage for your needs.

It is necessary to understand that there is a difference in treating anxiety in a person who has a mild case of it and in someone with severe anxiety or panic disorder. Similarly, someone with a better genetic or health score is bound to require a different dosage from a person looking to remedy a serious medical issue.

CBD Oil is Not a Miracle Cure and Can’t Replace Traditional Medications

With all the publicity and attention given to CBD’s various benefits, we won’t blame you for looking at the product like some magic cure. You can’t merely consume a few doses of CBD oil and expect your ailment to be cured in a jiffy. Given the way the cannabidiol works on your ECS system, it can take a considerable amount of time for the cannabinoid to show an effect on your body.

CBD oil takes some time for your body to get used to as well. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your CBD oil product will cure your problem instantaneously. It isn’t fair to use the product for a few times and then asking for a refund. For the CBD product to produce the promised effect, you must find the appropriate dosage for yourself. With time and age, the right dose of CBD oil for you will change. What worked when you were 25 might not work when you are 40.

Another important thing to understand is that CBD oil is not a replacement for medications prescribed by your doctor. If you are on medication for anything, it is always better to talk to your doctor before incorporation CBD into your routine as a supplement. Some medicines interfere with CBD absorption. Others will have trouble being absorbed by the liver if consumed with cannabidiol. There are a variety of possibilities that can occur with unsupervised or self-administered CBD supplement if you’re already being medicated.

It is always recommended to consult your medical practitioner when you decide to try CBD oil supplements.

Before we get down to answering this, let us warn you: the recommendation we make should not be treated as gospel. Read the package instructions clearly before consuming any CBD oil product. These numbers are meant to guide you and enable you to find the right dose of CBD oil for yourself.

As a general rule with CBD oil, start small. You can always work your way up if you don’t see satisfactory results. But starting small helps your body ease into the beneficial path of endocannabinoid stimulation. Most CBD users who ingest cannabidiol daily find a dosage between 10 to 20mg appropriate. Administered once or twice a day, these doses are effective in bringing relief to sufferers of many ailments.

For slightly less severe ailments, 1-3mg doses, once or twice a day are sufficient. You can start your day off with a dosage before breakfast. The next dose can be taken 9 to 12 hours after the first dose. Some people may not even feel the need for a second dose. For people with ailments like anxiety, mild depression, PTSD, migraines and mild to moderate back pain, 3-5mg doses are usually adequate. Remember that these numbers are general averages and should not be considered as an official recommendation.

At whatever mg dosage amount you start, you can always increase it systematically till you feel the desired relief and therapeutic effects. You should also look out for the duration of the effects. This attention to your body’s reaction will help you understand whether another dose is required.

Using the least required amount of CBD oil is beneficial economically. However, it also prevents tolerance building up against the substance. Although you are more likely to build up a tolerance for THC as compared to CBD, we can never predict how a body responds. For example, some people may build a tolerance easily while others can take doses of more than 30mg a day without any side effects.

How to Calculate CBD Content In a Dose

Most CBD oil tinctures are sold as dropper bottles. There is no shortage of brands catering to the needs of the CBD oil market. These brands understand the importance of sharing content and potency information and most products will list how many mg are present in each drop. Even spray bottle labels specify the dosage in mg for a single shot spray meant to be administered under the tongue.

CBD oils are available in a variety of container sizes and concentrations. This leads to much disparity in the content, potency and concentration in CBD products. 500mg of CBD could be concentrated in a 15ml bottle. Another brand might offer a 15ml bottle with 200mg of CBD content. So how will you calculate the CBD content in a single dose of product?

Try this formula: [Total CBD Content in the Bottle] ÷ [Total contents of the Bottle in ml]

This will help you calculate the total milligrams (mg) of CBD you’ll get per Dropper. For example, let’s say you want to calculate the dropper’s CBD content in a 30ml CBD tincture product with 1,500mg CBD.

1500 ÷ 30 = 50mg of CBD content per dropper of the product

How to Take CBD Oil?

When it comes to using CBD oil, there is more than one method available today. Depending on the ailment you’re focusing on treating, the product’s potency and your physiology, there are many ways of consuming CBD oil.

Vaping is preferred by many as a method of ingesting CBD thanks to its ease. Inhaling CBD via a vape delivers cannabidiol rapidly to the bloodstream by way of the lungs. Since the compound is readily delivered to the bloodstream, the effects are felt in quick succession. Most people notice the impact within a 5 to 20 minute time window. The potency of the product influences the time taken to feel the effects.

Sublingual Consumption

CBD oil drops placed under the tongue are absorbed into the bloodstream through mucous membranes present in the tongue region. Even in this method, the effects are felt rather quickly, based on the product’s potency and the dosage size. Some users find tinctures to have an overpowering taste. For such users, flavoured CBD oil drops might be a better fit.

Topical Application

There are many CBD oil ointments, topical lotions and creams available in the market. These products are great to target specific conditions. With topical application, CBD oil is locally delivered to the affected parts. This localized application is extremely beneficial in cases of skin issues or dermatological conditions. The cannabidiol in topical products gets absorbed via the cells under the skin.

There is some extra time needed for the cannabidiol to enter the bloodstream through topical absorption. The effects, however, will last longer owing to the gradual absorption into the bloodstream.

Ingestion

Ingestion of CBD is considered one of the easiest method of delivering CBD to your body. In the case of this method, you ’re merely swallowing the CBD oil concentrate. After this concentrate passes through the digestive system, it makes its way to the liver to be metabolized, just like your vitamin from food are delivered to your system.

You can choose from CBD edible products available in the market. CBD gummies, capsules and candies are quite popular. There are some CBD oil concentrates that can be mixed into everyday dishes for ease of consumption. Everything from ice-cream and juices to baked goods and salad dressings can be a means for ingesting these concentrates.

It takes a while for the effects of CBD to kick in with ingestion. The CBD oil’s tour of the digestive system causes delays in producing results. However, taking your concentrate on an empty stomach can speed the process significantly.

Other Tips to Find the Right CBD Oil Dosage for You

Always Start Small: CBD oil’s safety shouldn’t prompt you to chug down a huge dose when you start. Increase the dose if you don’t feel the desired effect or relief.

Factor in Your Body Weight: Similar to pharmaceutical medicines, CBD oil dosages depend on your overall body weight. The CBD oil needed for producing an effect increases in proportion to how much you weigh.

Your Ailment and Its Severity: Depending on the severity of your medical condition, the CBD oil dosage changes. Basically, the more chronic or severe your disorder, the more cannabidiol you’ll need.

Product Composition: Depending on how potent the CBD product is, the dosage will change. Another essential thing to consider is the THC percentage of CBD oil. Since they can either help or hinder each other’s effect, it makes sense to know what to expect. This understanding will help you evaluate the right balance of cannabinoid compounds that deliver the desired effect in your case.

Dwight was a Mental Health counselor at Long Island Psychotherapy & Counseling in Westbury, New York for more than 15 years. He believes that CBD is the prime solution to this mental illness and more-- with proper research, medical acknowledgment, and application. Through his work at AmericanMarijuana, together with the rest of the team, he wishes to provide everyone with genuine results and high-quality product reviews for everyone to enjoy for free.